Brave New World and the Infamous Shakespeare- Scott VanZant
William Shakespeare, the literary powerhouse of the 14th century, was born in 1564. Despite the scraps of information known and not known, this piece of information is fairly confirmed due to records validating his baptism, which occurred on April 26th. With this valuable informative fact, historians can conclude that his glorious birthday indeed happened in the year 1564, presumably three days before the baptism, with a projected birthday, April 23th, 1564.
Shakespeare achieved amazing and drastic accomplishments in his relatively short stint in literature of 23 years. Responsible for 38 plays and 5 other poems, Shakespeare is most widely read throughout the world, with the exception of the Bible. But to pursue the question to why he is so popular is quite facile. Like most modern TV/movie directors in our hypercritical world today, these directors must grasp the attention of the audience. Many different categories of entertainment exist in today's world such as: comedy, soap operas, drama, sports, reality shows, and many more options. Due to the obvious lack of technology in Shakespeare's world, such entertainment could not be possible. Plays and skits mostly contributed to entertainment in his time period. Shakespeare's "cream of the crop" type of play was tragedy, love a close second. Tragedy and love plays were quite similiar to modern day shows such as soap operas and drama. The definition of a tragedy is: a dramatic composition, often in verse, dealing with a serious or somber theme, typically that of a great person destined through a flaw of character or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate or society, to downfall or destruction. Shakespeare's most famous tragedies are King Lear, Hamlet, Othello, and Macbeth. Shakespeare's ingenious vocabulary combined with marvelous creativity and diversity in writing and performing his plays also guided him to fame. His plays always kept his audience at the edge of his/her seat.
Brave New World and The Tempest: by Alex Mercer (5-3)
Both Brave New World and The Tempest can be seen as "allegories" or a symbolic narrative. In The Tempest, Prospero decides to "civilize" Caliban. Caliban was, before Prospero and his crew arrived, living in solitude on an island, and was portrayed as a subhuman being. Similar to this, Bernard found John on the savage reservation in Brave New World. He takes him back with him on his return trip, thus aiding to the "poisoning" of John's mind via civilization. In the World's history, civilizing a culture involves erasing memories of old language, history, and religion. The World State is run on a similar thought process; out with the old, in with the new.
The title for Huxley's book derives from this quote from The Tempest in which Miranda remarks on seeing the first men other than her father Prospero or Ferdinand that she had ever seen. This scene takes place at The King of Naples' party.
O, wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, That has such people in't!
The Tempest (V, i)
Now, compare Miranda's quote with John the savage's, found on the last page of the 8th chapter, when Bernard has invited John to go see civilization.
"O brave new world," he repeated. "O brave new world that has such people in it. Let's start at once."
Brave New World and Othello by Ryan Moore (5-3) Character similarities Othello and Brave New World can be connected through the similarities of their characters. In the play, Othello is a Moor of great power. In that time he would’ve seen different from the people of Venice. He marries Desdemona the daughter of a Venetian Senator. She is described as pure and meek, but determined. Othello is described as a physically powerful figure, although he has reason to be insecure because of his race, age, and life as a soldier. Lago is othello’s ensign. He is twenty eight years old. Lago seeks to find othello’s ultimate demise. He accuses Desdemona of cheating on Othello with another man. Othello believes him and confronts her many times, ultimately killing his wife over his anger. The reasons for Lago wanting to see Othello fail are not justified, but rather random acts of destruction and manipulation.
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/othello/characters.html Relation: In Brave New World, John is the main character. He was born in Malpais, but his parents were from England. Since he is of a lighter skin tone than the savages, he seems like an outsider. Both Othello and John are from a different race than the people that surround them, leading to their insecurities. I believe that Bernard Marx is related to Lago. John believes that he is going to go to a happier place when he travels to the Brave New World with Bernard. He quickly finds out that this isn’t the right country for him, and he is against everything BNW stands for. Othello believes he is going in the right direction, because he is happily married to his wife Desdemona. Although, Lago lies, and fools Othello into believing something that isn’t real. Both characters are told lies and lead to misery.
Isolation in BNW and Othello There are many scenes in Othello where several of the characters are alone on stage, or saying soliloquies to the audience. They move to the island of Cyprus, where they are quite protected. Even in one scene, Othello is standing among several dead people. The isolation found in Othello is a way of saying self-isolation will lead to destruction. That type of isolation fuels the many parts of the plays, and in several instances, lives are taken. Relation: In BNW they are lead to believe that there is nowhere better than England. It is drilled into their head not to be alone or isolated, because it could be deadly. page 40, Fanny gets upset with Lennina because she has been having only Henry for four months. John is lonely throughout the play. He goes from denying Lennina, to the death of his mother Linda, and it is he, in the end that gets the worst. Both instances (in Othello and BNW) show loneliness leads to death and downfall. http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/othello/themes.html Quotes
Brave New World and King Lear: by Jessica S. (5-3)
King Lear represents the Brave New World society because they both value appearance over reality. King Lear wants the title of king but he doesn't want to actually be king. This reminds me of the Brave New World society because they enjoy the pleasures of the caste level they're in but they only enjoy working because they have been pre-conditioned to. King Lear values public display of love over real love, and the society of Brave New World also value public love over real love because they were conditioned to think that public displays of affection are normal when real love actually means something but to them it has no value. King Lear was blind to the truth and so was the society of Brave New World. The society was blind to the truth because they were conditioned so they have no real thoughts of their own unless they're Alphas but everyone was brainwashed into doing what others tell them to which made up a society of beings who never truly knew right from wrong.
Cordelia represents John because they are both honest and kind people. John was different from the rest of society and so was Cordelia; they both believed something opposite from what others believed and didn't care what the consequences would be and what would happen to them if they thought differently, they embraced it. They both feel that their world is an unjust world. John's world is unjust because he knows that everyone has been brainwashed, and he wants to try and relieve himself of his sins but he knows that can't happen when he is tempted by Lenina. Cordelia has a real love for King Lear and John has a real love for Lenina, but the society that they both live in believe in superficial love not real love so they are both going against what their society believes.
Edmund represents the Director because they are both villains in a sense. The Director is a villain because he doesn't let the people of Brave New World have an opinion or any kind of thought that isn't a good thought or a controlled thought. Edmund is a villain because he's always scheming and he would do anything to reach his goals.
Goneril represents Bernard because she is always jealous of Regan who I feel represents Helmholtz. Goneril and Regan have bad behavior towards Lear. Bernard and Helmholtz have bad behavior towards the society because they go against the restrictions that the society has placed on them.
Quote from King Lear that is found in Brave New World:
"As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods.
They kill us for their sport."
Chapter 18, Page 254 King Lear (IV, i)
I believe that this quote relates to the Brave New World book because if you don't do what Brave New World leaders tell you to do then you will be banished which is basically killing them in a sense because the people of Brave New World want to be in that society and if they're banished that will kill them inside.
Romeo and Juliet and Brave New World- Sarah Simonds
There are similarities between Romeo and Juliet and Brave New World. First, in Romeo and Juliet, Benvolio, Romeo’s cousin, sees Romeo, who appears to be upset. When he is asked what is wrong, Romeo trusts Benvolio and tells him that he is in love with a girl named Rosaline. Rosaline does not feel the same way about him. Benvolio tells Romeo to forget Rosaline and to find a more beautiful girl. Romeo is hesitant. In Brave New World, Bernard Marx is falling in love with Lenina Crowne, who likes him but does not share the feeling of love with Bernard.
Juliet and Lenina are similar in the way that they each have a friend that they confide in. Juliet confides in her nurse, while Lenina confides in her friend Fanny. Also, the Nurse does not like Romeo because he is a Montague, and Fanny does not like Henry Foster because Lenina has been with only him for four months.
Two other characters that have similar roles are Linda from Brave New World, and Romeo from Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is banished forever from Verona, for killing Tybalt (Juliet’s cousin), then abandoning the scene. Linda was “banished” in a way from the Brave New World. The Director took her on a trip to the Savage Reservation, and she became accidentally pregnant. While at the Savage Reservation, Linda becomes lost, and the Director has to leave before she is found. This was his way of “banishing” her from the Brave New World.
Lastly, Romeo and Bernard are similar in the way that they both are missing something that keeps the girl they love from them. Romeo is a Montague, while Juliet is a Capulet, and Bernard Marx is small for and Alpha.
Brave New World and the Infamous Shakespeare- Scott VanZant
William Shakespeare, the literary powerhouse of the 14th century, was born in 1564. Despite the scraps of information known and not known, this piece of information is fairly confirmed due to records validating his baptism, which occurred on April 26th. With this valuable informative fact, historians can conclude that his glorious birthday indeed happened in the year 1564, presumably three days before the baptism, with a projected birthday, April 23th, 1564.
Shakespeare achieved amazing and drastic accomplishments in his relatively short stint in literature of 23 years. Responsible for 38 plays and 5 other poems, Shakespeare is most widely read throughout the world, with the exception of the Bible. But to pursue the question to why he is so popular is quite facile. Like most modern TV/movie directors in our hypercritical world today, these directors must grasp the attention of the audience. Many different categories of entertainment exist in today's world such as: comedy, soap operas, drama, sports, reality shows, and many more options. Due to the obvious lack of technology in Shakespeare's world, such entertainment could not be possible. Plays and skits mostly contributed to entertainment in his time period. Shakespeare's "cream of the crop" type of play was tragedy, love a close second. Tragedy and love plays were quite similiar to modern day shows such as soap operas and drama. The definition of a tragedy is: a dramatic composition, often in verse, dealing with a serious or somber theme, typically that of a great person destined through a flaw of character or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate or society, to downfall or destruction. Shakespeare's most famous tragedies are King Lear, Hamlet, Othello, and Macbeth. Shakespeare's ingenious vocabulary combined with marvelous creativity and diversity in writing and performing his plays also guided him to fame. His plays always kept his audience at the edge of his/her seat.
Works Cited:
http://www.enotes.com/william-shakespeare/shakespeare-biography
http://www.william-sheakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-biography.htm
http://www.shakespeare-literature.com/
Shakespeare - =)
Brave New World and The Tempest: by Alex Mercer (5-3)
Both Brave New World and The Tempest can be seen as "allegories" or a symbolic narrative. In The Tempest, Prospero decides to "civilize" Caliban. Caliban was, before Prospero and his crew arrived, living in solitude on an island, and was portrayed as a subhuman being. Similar to this, Bernard found John on the savage reservation in Brave New World. He takes him back with him on his return trip, thus aiding to the "poisoning" of John's mind via civilization. In the World's history, civilizing a culture involves erasing memories of old language, history, and religion. The World State is run on a similar thought process; out with the old, in with the new.
The title for Huxley's book derives from this quote from The Tempest in which Miranda remarks on seeing the first men other than her father Prospero or Ferdinand that she had ever seen. This scene takes place at The King of Naples' party.
O, wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in't!
The Tempest (V, i)
Now, compare Miranda's quote with John the savage's, found on the last page of the 8th chapter, when Bernard has invited John to go see civilization.
"O brave new world," he repeated. "O brave new world that has such people in it. Let's start at once."
Miranda from The Tempest
SOURCES:
source #1
source #2
source #3
Brave New World and Othello by Ryan Moore (5-3)
Character similarities
Othello and Brave New World can be connected through the similarities of their characters. In the play, Othello is a Moor of great power. In that time he would’ve seen different from the people of Venice. He marries Desdemona the daughter of a Venetian Senator. She is described as pure and meek, but determined. Othello is described as a physically powerful figure, although he has reason to be insecure because of his race, age, and life as a soldier.
Lago is othello’s ensign. He is twenty eight years old. Lago seeks to find othello’s ultimate demise. He accuses Desdemona of cheating on Othello with another man. Othello believes him and confronts her many times, ultimately killing his wife over his anger. The reasons for Lago wanting to see Othello fail are not justified, but rather random acts of destruction and manipulation.
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/othello/characters.html
Relation: In Brave New World, John is the main character. He was born in Malpais, but his parents were from England. Since he is of a lighter skin tone than the savages, he seems like an outsider. Both Othello and John are from a different race than the people that surround them, leading to their insecurities.
I believe that Bernard Marx is related to Lago. John believes that he is going to go to a happier place when he travels to the Brave New World with Bernard. He quickly finds out that this isn’t the right country for him, and he is against everything BNW stands for. Othello believes he is going in the right direction, because he is happily married to his wife Desdemona. Although, Lago lies, and fools Othello into believing something that isn’t real. Both characters are told lies and lead to misery.
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/othello/summary.html
Isolation in BNW and Othello
There are many scenes in Othello where several of the characters are alone on stage, or saying soliloquies to the audience. They move to the island of Cyprus, where they are quite protected. Even in one scene, Othello is standing among several dead people. The isolation found in Othello is a way of saying self-isolation will lead to destruction. That type of isolation fuels the many parts of the plays, and in several instances, lives are taken.
Relation: In BNW they are lead to believe that there is nowhere better than England. It is drilled into their head not to be alone or isolated, because it could be deadly. page 40, Fanny gets upset with Lennina because she has been having only Henry for four months.
John is lonely throughout the play. He goes from denying Lennina, to the death of his mother Linda, and it is he, in the end that gets the worst. Both instances (in Othello and BNW) show loneliness leads to death and downfall.
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/othello/themes.html
Quotes
Brave New World and King Lear: by Jessica S. (5-3)
King Lear represents the Brave New World society because they both value appearance over reality. King Lear wants the title of king but he doesn't want to actually be king. This reminds me of the Brave New World society because they enjoy the pleasures of the caste level they're in but they only enjoy working because they have been pre-conditioned to. King Lear values public display of love over real love, and the society of Brave New World also value public love over real love because they were conditioned to think that public displays of affection are normal when real love actually means something but to them it has no value. King Lear was blind to the truth and so was the society of Brave New World. The society was blind to the truth because they were conditioned so they have no real thoughts of their own unless they're Alphas but everyone was brainwashed into doing what others tell them to which made up a society of beings who never truly knew right from wrong.
Cordelia represents John because they are both honest and kind people. John was different from the rest of society and so was Cordelia; they both believed something opposite from what others believed and didn't care what the consequences would be and what would happen to them if they thought differently, they embraced it. They both feel that their world is an unjust world. John's world is unjust because he knows that everyone has been brainwashed, and he wants to try and relieve himself of his sins but he knows that can't happen when he is tempted by Lenina. Cordelia has a real love for King Lear and John has a real love for Lenina, but the society that they both live in believe in superficial love not real love so they are both going against what their society believes.
Edmund represents the Director because they are both villains in a sense. The Director is a villain because he doesn't let the people of Brave New World have an opinion or any kind of thought that isn't a good thought or a controlled thought. Edmund is a villain because he's always scheming and he would do anything to reach his goals.
Goneril represents Bernard because she is always jealous of Regan who I feel represents Helmholtz. Goneril and Regan have bad behavior towards Lear. Bernard and Helmholtz have bad behavior towards the society because they go against the restrictions that the society has placed on them.
Quote from King Lear that is found in Brave New World:
"As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods.
They kill us for their sport."
Chapter 18, Page 254 King Lear (IV, i)
I believe that this quote relates to the Brave New World book because if you don't do what Brave New World leaders tell you to do then you will be banished which is basically killing them in a sense because the people of Brave New World want to be in that society and if they're banished that will kill them inside.
http://www.huxley.net/whoswho.htm
http://absoluteshakespeare.com/guides/king_lear/characters/characters.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_quotes_from_Shakespeare_in_Brave_New_World
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/lear/canalysis.html
Romeo and Juliet and Brave New World- Sarah Simonds
There are similarities between Romeo and Juliet and Brave New World. First, in Romeo and Juliet, Benvolio, Romeo’s cousin, sees Romeo, who appears to be upset. When he is asked what is wrong, Romeo trusts Benvolio and tells him that he is in love with a girl named Rosaline. Rosaline does not feel the same way about him. Benvolio tells Romeo to forget Rosaline and to find a more beautiful girl. Romeo is hesitant. In Brave New World, Bernard Marx is falling in love with Lenina Crowne, who likes him but does not share the feeling of love with Bernard.
Juliet and Lenina are similar in the way that they each have a friend that they confide in. Juliet confides in her nurse, while Lenina confides in her friend Fanny. Also, the Nurse does not like Romeo because he is a Montague, and Fanny does not like Henry Foster because Lenina has been with only him for four months.
Two other characters that have similar roles are Linda from Brave New World, and Romeo from Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is banished forever from Verona, for killing Tybalt (Juliet’s cousin), then abandoning the scene. Linda was “banished” in a way from the Brave New World. The Director took her on a trip to the Savage Reservation, and she became accidentally pregnant. While at the Savage Reservation, Linda becomes lost, and the Director has to leave before she is found. This was his way of “banishing” her from the Brave New World.
Lastly, Romeo and Bernard are similar in the way that they both are missing something that keeps the girl they love from them. Romeo is a Montague, while Juliet is a Capulet, and Bernard Marx is small for and Alpha.
sources:
http://www.huxley.net/studyaid/bnwbarron.html
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/romeojuliet/
http://www.globe-theatre.org.uk/summary-of-romeo-and-juliet-and-characters.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brave_New_World#In_order_of_appearance